Once the sunglasses-wearing Zaslav launched into an uninspired speech recalling his time at Boston University as a law student, people throughout the opening ceremony began booing the 63-year-old entertainment executive and didn’t stop until he stopped talking about 20 minutes later. .
“When I was announced as a speaker a few weeks ago, one of my buddies at Boston University texted me,” Zaslav said in a burst of sarcasm. He said, “Who would have thought,” and he was right. Who would have thought that one day I would be here to give you advice about life? I have to admit I’m a little nervous.”
As tense as Zaslav, he attempts to use his time to connect with the class of 2023 by recounting how, after getting a job at a “big, prestigious company” where he was “making good money,” he found the work of writing flyers not only difficult but so unfulfilling that he He had to find a way out. In response to Zaslav’s call to share life tips, people across the audience told him to shut up and challenged him to “pay [his] The Book” – messages echoed by the detainees Demonstrating outside the event.
“I had to find something that really interested me—something I really liked,” Zaslav said as someone in the crowd shouted. “But that was really scary. I had a lot of anxiety because I was stuck. I had an apartment, and I had to keep the job until I found something else.”
As it became increasingly clear that the public’s sympathy was with the WGA, Zaslav shifted the gears a bit by telling a story about a valuable lesson he learned from his mentor, former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, whose ruthless approach to management turned the company into a A mythically profitable disaster. The key to success, Welch told Zaslav, is knowing “how to get along with everyone, and that includes difficult people.”
“In my career, I’ve seen a lot of talented people lose out on opportunities or jobs because they can’t get along with others,” said Zaslav. “You can’t choose the people you work with. Find out what you like in a person. There is always something going for them, and do what it takes to overcome their challenges. We have them all. The truth is, most of us don’t pay enough attention to our weaknesses because it’s not good to think about our shortcomings.” , especially when we all think that we often experience it.
Disclosure: The Vox Media editorial team, which includes the edgeShe is also a syndicate with the Writers Guild of America, Eastern.
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